Hail Damage Roof Repair Houston

Hailstones strike a roof at terminal velocities of 50 to 110 miles per hour depending on diameter. On a typical 3-tab or architectural asphalt shingle, the impact fractures the asphalt mat and dislodges the protective ceramic granules that shield it from ultraviolet light. The shingle does not fail immediately. It fails over the next 6 to 36 months as exposed asphalt oxidizes, cracks, and finally lets water through to the decking.

That delay is what makes hail claims so contentious. By the time the leak appears in your living room ceiling, the storm date is two years gone and your carrier may argue the damage is from "wear and tear." We document storm date, hail size from NOAA Storm Prediction Center reports, and impact diameter on every shingle we test. That paper trail is what gets a claim approved.

Three categories of damage appear after a hail event: functional (granule loss exposing mat, mat fracture, soft hits that bruise but do not crack), cosmetic (granule scuffing, finish marks on metal), and collateral (dented gutters, AC condenser fins, window screens, roof vents, siding). Carriers pay for functional damage. Cosmetic-only claims depend on policy language. Collateral damage is almost always covered and is often the strongest evidence a claim is legitimate.

You do not need to climb on the roof. From the ground, look for:

• Black or shiny circles on shingles where granules are missing.
• Granules collecting in downspout splash zones or in low spots of the gutter.
• Round dents in soft metals: gutters, downspouts, AC fin cages, roof vents, flashing.
• Splatter marks (lighter spots) on weathered surfaces like wood fences, painted siding, or window sills.
• Torn window screens or chipped paint on south or west exposures.
• A neighbor whose roof is being replaced. Hail cells are local. If they have damage, you likely do too.

If you see two or more of these, schedule an inspection. We bring a 4K drone, a moisture meter, a chalk wheel, and a hail gauge. The inspection takes about 45 minutes and we send the report by email the same day.

Day 0 - Inspection. Drone scan of the entire roof, on-roof inspection of representative slopes, photo documentation of every impact, hail-size verification against NOAA Storm Events Database, and a written narrative report.

Day 1 - You file the claim. You call your insurance carrier. We never call them on your behalf without an Assignment of Benefits, and we do not require an AOB to do the work. You receive a claim number and an adjuster appointment.

Day 7 to 21 - Adjuster meeting. We meet your adjuster on the roof, walk every slope, and present our documentation. Most adjusters appreciate well-prepared contractors because it shortens their day. We supplement the adjuster's scope where needed using Xactimate line items.

Day 21 to 45 - Approval and material order. Once the carrier approves the scope, we order materials in your shingle profile and color, schedule the tear-off, and obtain the City of Houston (or municipal) permit in your name.

Day 45 to 50 - Installation. Tear-off, deck inspection, replace any rotten plywood at $65 per sheet (a published, transparent rate), synthetic underlayment, ice and water shield in valleys and around penetrations, drip edge, ridge vent, finish layer. 2 to 4 days for most homes.

Day 50 - Final walk and close-out. We collect the deductible, register the manufacturer warranty, file the certificate of completion with the carrier, and submit the depreciation release for your final settlement check.

Texas is a strong consumer-protection state for storm claims. Under the Texas Insurance Code, your carrier must acknowledge your claim within 15 days, accept or deny within 15 business days of receiving all required information, and pay an accepted claim within 5 business days. The Texas Department of Insurance publishes a plain-language guide at tdi.texas.gov that every Houston homeowner should bookmark.

Claims are paid in two checks. The first is the Actual Cash Value (ACV) check, issued at approval, equal to the replacement scope minus your deductible and minus depreciation. The second is the Recoverable Depreciation check, released only after we send the carrier proof the work was completed. Roofers who try to collect both checks before the work starts are running an advance-fee scam.

Your deductible is yours to pay. Texas Insurance Code §707.002 makes it a Class B misdemeanor for a contractor to advertise that they will pay, waive, rebate, or absorb the deductible. We collect it at completion, in cash, check, or financed through Hearth or GreenSky.

For most Houston homes the right answer is a Class 4 impact-resistant architectural shingle from GAF, CertainTeed, Owens Corning, or IKO. Class 4 is the highest UL 2218 rating, certified to withstand a 2-inch steel ball dropped from 20 feet without splitting. Many Texas insurers offer a 10 to 30 percent premium discount on the wind/hail portion of your policy when you upgrade. Ask for the credit in writing before installation.

For coastal-facing homes or contemporary builds, we install standing seam metal in 24-gauge Galvalume with a Kynar 500 finish. Metal carries a 50-year finish warranty, sheds hail without fracturing, and qualifies for the same insurance discount. IBHS publishes independent test results that compare Class 4 products head-to-head.

Storm seasons attract out-of-state "storm chasers" who follow the cell, knock doors for two weeks, and disappear before the depreciation check arrives. Before you sign anything, verify:

• Local physical address with a Google Business Profile (we are at 2233 Yale St, #300, Houston, TX 77008).
• General liability insurance certificate naming you as a certificate holder during the project.
• Workers' compensation coverage so an injured roofer cannot lien your home.
• Manufacturer credentials (we are GAF and Owens Corning certified).
• Permits pulled in your name, not the contractor's.
• 5 years of verifiable Houston references and a perfect Google rating you can read.

Read more about post-storm decision-making in our guide to 7 signs it is time to replace your roof.